Prospective Evaluation of Injuries occurred during the Brazilian Football Championship in 2016

Abstract

Objective To identify the incidence, prevalence, characteristics and possible risk factors for injuries that occurred during the matches of the Brazilian Football Championship. Methods A prospective study was carried out to collect data on the injuries that occurred during the 2016 Brazilian Football Championship. The lesions were recorded by the physician responsible for each team through an online software. Results Among the 864 athletes who were included in the study, 231 (26.7%) of the players presented some injury during the tournament. In total, 312 injuries were recorded during the Brazilian Football Championship, with an average of 0.82 injuries per game. The incidence of injuries was of 24.9 injuries per 1,000 hours of game. Midfielders and forwards presented, respectively, a risk 3.6 and 2.4 times greater of suffering injury than goalkeepers. Conclusion The prevalence and incidence of lesions were, respectively, 26.7% and 24.9 injuries/1,000 hours of match. The most frequently affected body segment was the lower limbs (76.3%), and the athletes who performed in the midfielder and forward positions were the most affected. It was also observed a greater prevalence of injuries in the first part of the championship.